High level platforms
- DaveO
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High level platforms
Was Birmingham(new) station the only GTW station with high-level platforms?
How about other railroads in Michigan?
I know the Michigan Central Station in Detroit had them.
Fort Street Union Station didn't
Brush Street didn't.
MC Third Street? don't think so.
How about other railroads in Michigan?
I know the Michigan Central Station in Detroit had them.
Fort Street Union Station didn't
Brush Street didn't.
MC Third Street? don't think so.
- C&O Dispatcher
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Re: High level platforms
I can't think of any other locations.
Re: High level platforms
The Detroit MC Depot had standard platforms.
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John Bjorklund photo:
- Saturnalia
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Re: High level platforms
The Amtrak station in Grand Rapids has a high-level platform. It is on a stub so it isn’t a clearance issue for freight trains.
- DaveO
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Re: High level platforms
I use high level to mean platform height at car floor height. It looks like a step box needs to be used there?Saturnalia wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:51 pmThe Amtrak station in Grand Rapids has a high-level platform. It is on a stub so it isn’t a clearance issue for freight trains.
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Re: High level platforms
When you refer to high level, is it Northeast Corridor style where they only have to open the door and walk on without opening the trap, or a station that does not require a stepbox but passengers still have to pull bags up the stairs? Michigan stations are all low level in that regard with the exception of the Ann Arbor movable platform.
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- DaveO
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Re: High level platforms
Yes, level walk-out(mind the gap) is what I intended.
Surprised that Grand Rapids didn't go full height there.
Full height platforms mean the track gangs can't mess with the alignment or bad things might happen.
I guess the mid-height platform might be more forgiving in that respect?
In Australia, there is a location with signs telling the track workers to not do a thing without contacting engineering first.
Surprised that Grand Rapids didn't go full height there.
Full height platforms mean the track gangs can't mess with the alignment or bad things might happen.
I guess the mid-height platform might be more forgiving in that respect?
In Australia, there is a location with signs telling the track workers to not do a thing without contacting engineering first.
- DaveO
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Re: High level platforms
No orders to pick-up todayC&O Dispatcher wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 6:22 pmHere's the high level platform on the east side at Birmingham:
https://flic.kr/p/2gZEGtW
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Re: High level platforms
"Clear boards east and west." 'Twas that way before they made the Holly Sub north-south.
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Re: High level platforms
I think all of the MBTA platforms out here are high level. There may be a handful that aren't. Just don't stick your foot in the gap getting on/off!
Re: High level platforms
Superliner boarding is not possible at high level platforms. As stated above ARB has the only current high level platform, but it’s only good for 2 doors.Saturnalia wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:51 pmThe Amtrak station in Grand Rapids has a high-level platform. It is on a stub so it isn’t a clearance issue for freight trains.
Dearborn has a platform that does not require a step box, and track 1 is removable for high wides. You just open the trap and the stairs are at platform level.
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All Aboard Amtrak: Northbound, Southbound, and My Hometown
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- DaveO
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Re: High level platforms
Ypsi has the answer. Grand Rapids gets Superliners and they're not compatible with a high platform.
Re: High level platforms
I recall years ago reading or someone saying that Birmingham was the only high level platform outside of the east coast. Might be recounting that wrong but was something like that.
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Re: High level platforms
Might be disqualified because of its interurban status, but I believe the South Shore was using those ancient wooden high level platforms between Randolph St. and Kensington near the Indiana border in the 30's and 40's.
Man o' War
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Re: High level platforms
The IC, and later Metra Electric, was high-level platforms for eons because those tracks were dedicated for passenger under the wire, a rarity for sure outside the NEC and affiliated routes.Man o' War wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 10:17 pmMight be disqualified because of its interurban status, but I believe the South Shore was using those ancient wooden high level platforms between Randolph St. and Kensington near the Indiana border in the 30's and 40's.
Man o' War
Today the Metra Electric is 100% high-level boarding.
The South Shore has high level platforms at Hegewisch, Hammond, East Chicago, Dune Park and South Bend Airport. They have gauntlet track to move freights 1-2’ away from the platform to address clearance concerns, except at Dune Park, where freights are simply routed through the siding, and none at South Bend as freight is prohibited beyond Grandview. Additional high-level platforms are planned at all West Lake stations as well as with Double Track project at Miller and Michigan City 10th Street. That will leave Carroll and Gary as the only two low level regular stations, whereas flag stops Clark Rd, Beverly Shores and Hudson Lake have no plans for high-level boarding. Carroll will need to see a major track reconfiguration before high-levels are possible due to the freight needing to use that station track and no way around it or to add gauntlet right now.
- justalurker66
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Re: High level platforms
Carroll will be closing when 11th St reopens downtown. So that leaves Gary as the only full service station without a high level platform when the double track project completes (and I wonder about the future of that station).Saturnalia wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 11:00 pmThat will leave Carroll and Gary as the only two low level regular stations,
Gary had high level boarding back in the old days before the track was raised and realigned along the toll road. The new (current) platform is low level boarding and not long enough for an eight car train. There is not a lot of room at Gary to add a high level platform with gauntlets and I believe NICTD would rather close the station than remodel it (there was discussion a few years ago of building a new Gary station just east of I-65 but the community rejected the idea). The trains that currently turn or drop cars at Gary will perform that function in Miller when DTNWI completes (making it real easy to close down or minimize operations at Metro Center).
BTW: Note that I wrote "*A* high level platform". Dune Park will not have high level platforms on both tracks after double tracking. Freights will continue to use the north track passing a new low level platform (no gauntlets).
- justalurker66
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Re: High level platforms
I am surprised that they didn't put the platform high enough to avoid the use of the step box.DaveO wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:55 pmI use high level to mean platform height at car floor height. It looks like a step box needs to be used there?Saturnalia wrote: ↑Wed Jun 30, 2021 5:51 pmThe Amtrak station in Grand Rapids has a high-level platform. It is on a stub so it isn’t a clearance issue for freight trains.